25 of the
247 complaints filed about the BMW 320I
are about the airbag system —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2014.
On 09/16/25, I was exiting the Florida turnpike onto Sawgrass Highway via the exit ramp on exit 71. As I decelerated from 60 MPH to 35 MPH to match the speed of the exit ramp, I was in the left most lane in the two-lane exit ramp. My car spun out and I lost control of the vehicle, which caused the vehicle to spin through the two lanes of the ramp several times and ended up drifting onto the edge of the retention pond on the left of the exit ramp. I probably had spun around over three times and my car hung off the edge of the retention pond with the only thing preventing my car from falling into the pond being the rocks to prevent erosion on the side of the pond. The airbags on the drivers side and the curtain airbags both had deployed upon the car coming to a stop. The seatbelts were also locked upon trying to exit the car. The car was fully serviced prior to the incident and in good standing with BMW. The brakes were recently replaced a month ago and regular milestone inspections were conducted on the car. The road conditions on the day in question were great with no water or puddles on the road.
NHTSA complaint #11700173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My passenger airbag sensor malfunctioned and the repair is over two thousand dollars. The car is only 6 years old and I believe airbags should last longer than 6 years. BMW has extended warranties for airbags on some models (mine not included) for 15 years without mileage limitation. If a collision occurs, my passenger would be in extreme danger.
NHTSA complaint #11629707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On May 4th, at approximately 6:45 AM, I was driving in heavy rain at a speed under 65 miles per hour when my car hydroplaned and I lost control. This resulted in a significant accident. Despite the severity of the crash, the steering wheel airbag did not deploy, which resulted in a whiplash neck injury for me. There were no warning lamps or messages indicating a problem before the incident. However, after the crash, all the lights on the dashboard turned on. The malfunctioning airbag posed a serious risk to my safety. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer, manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or independent service centers since the incident
NHTSA complaint #11591894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 320I. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the front driver's side airbags and passenger side airbags deployed unintendedly, causing the driver to lose control of the steering wheel and drive over the curb. The contact stated that there was no crash to cause the airbags to deploy. During the failure, the rear driver’s side and passenger’s side tires became deflated. The vehicle was later towed away from the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 78,000.
NHTSA complaint #11562032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving to home, Nobody is traveling with me. Suddenly SRS System gave me a warning that "Restraint System Malfunction" .I went to the dealer he diagnosed and told that. Passenger Seat Occupancy sensor failure, that will prevent the deployment of Airbags. The vehicle mileage is less than 34k. They fixed and charged me for $1958.71.
NHTSA complaint #11555355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving to home, Nobody is traveling with me. Suddenly SRS System gave me a warning that "Restraint System Malfunction" .I went to the dealer he diagnosed and told that. Passenger Seat Occupancy sensor failure, that will prevent the deployment of Airbags. The vehicle mileage is less than 34k. They fixed and charged me for $1958.71.
NHTSA complaint #11555355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The brakes wouldn’t work and car kept going even though I tried to brake several times and with all my strength The car stopped when crashed another car and I was able to shut down the car but the brakes did not work. The crash was very severe and airbags didn’t deploy. A faulty airbag message was shown on my car screen.
NHTSA complaint #11475820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
engine overheating, passenger safety belt, failed speed control (difficulty accelerating) Due to these issues and malfunctions; it causes injury to the driver as the airbags/seat belts are not stable. If the car suddenly stops it can injure the driver. The vehicle shuts off unexpectedly, vehicle loses power/ says to drive moderately or stop driving/ the car drives slow does not past 35 mph, the car goes into 'limp mode' (less than 10 mph) it goes in a very low speed with no acceleration; This is a safety hazard, as it becomes easy to be rear-ended by another driver when it slows substantially. This can cause injury to the driver and surrounding drivers. The problem has been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The water pump and thermostat was replaced, however, the car still does not accelerate and is in a low driving speed mode. It still shuts off unexpectedly. The issue has not been resolved. The warning signs were 'drive moderately, engine overheated, passenger safety belt, with cranking noises, no acceleration, limp mode (car is going very slow no more than 10 mph).
NHTSA complaint #11447154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE DISPLAYS WARNING FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG RESTRAINT WHEN STARTED AND WHILE DRIVING. DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSIS AND SAID IT IS DUE TO A FAULTY AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE.
NHTSA complaint #11396344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2014 BMW 320I
at 90,000 milesLakewood Ranch, FLCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 9/9/20, WHERE MY CAR CRASHED IN TO SIDE WALL OF INTERSTATE. DRIVERSIDE HAD IMPACT WITH WALL. CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED SUCCESSFULLY. DRIVER SEAT AIRBAG CAME OUT WITH BLAST. THEY IGNITED FIRE AND MY SHIRT(DRY-FIT POLO ) BURNED. I WAS INJURED WITH BURN MARKS ON MY ABDOMEN. EACH BURN MARK CORRESPONDS TO WHOLE IN AID BAG.
NHTSA complaint #11354118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT IN A 2016 BMW 320I WITH FRONT AND PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT. IT WAS SO BAD, IT PUSHED BACK MY ENTIRE AXLE, WHEELS, ETC. MY DRIVER SIDE NOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I WAS TRAVELING 40 MILES PER HOUR WHEN HIT BY ANOTHER DRIVER WHO WAS TRAVELING DOWNHILL AT OR ABOVE THE SAME SPEED. SOS BUTTON DID NOT WORK EITHER. THIS HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET (INTERSECTION). THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAD TWO MINORS IN THE CAR WITH ME. THE MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON MY DASH, ETC. SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT FAULTY AIRBAGS, ETC. COLLISION EXPERT CONFIRMED SENSORS DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE MADE FRONT AND SIDE, CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOY. THEY EVEN ANOTHER VEHICLE (SAME MAKE AND YEAR) IN THEIR LOT WITH SAME IMPACT LOCATIONS- THOUGH NOT AS SIGNIFICANT/SERIOUS- SHOWING ALL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #11324617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A HIT AND RUN VEHICLE AND RESULTING IN THE ACCIDENT, MY STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF IN THE PROCESS HITTING ME IN MY PELVIC AREA AND NOW I AM HAVING TROUBLE URINATING AND I HAVE BLEEDING. THE AIR BAGS ALSO BURNED THROUGH MY CLOTHES AND ONTO MY SKIN. I SUFFERED FIRST DEGREE BURNS TO MY ARM, STOMACH AND THIGH.
NHTSA complaint #11277528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW 320I. WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF STERLING (21710 AUTO WORLD CIR, STERLING, VA 20166, (571) 789-2306), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.
NHTSA complaint #11267962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW 320I. WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF STERLING (21710 AUTO WORLD CIR, STERLING, VA 20166, (571) 789-2306), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.
NHTSA complaint #11267962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL - A SAFETY RECALL HAS NOT YET BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE AND/OR ITS TAKATA AIRBAG SYSTEM. DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY ATTEMPTING TO TAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN SHE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. AFTER IMPACT, HER VEHICLE TRAVELED ACROSS THE YELLOW LINE, ACROSS A SOUTHBOUND LANE AND OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A 4 FOOT DITCH. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILED TO DEPLOY BOTH WHEN STRUCK BY THE OTHER VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE IMPACT WITH THE DITCH. DRIVER WAS INJURED AND TAKEN TO EMERGENCY ROOM. PASSENGER IN HER VEHICLE WAS REMOVED BY THE JAWS OF LIFE AND AIRLIFTED FOR LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #11166339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECEIVED A WARNING LIGHT AND ACCOMPANYING ERROR MESSAGE STATING I HAD A MALFUNCTIONING PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. VEHICLE WAS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED PURCHASE, 2ND OWNER. AS VEHICLE WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND PREPAID MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, WE TOOK IT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED US THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT DETECTION MAT WAS TO BLAME AND IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS THE CONNECTION POINTS APPEARED CORRODED. WHEN I INQUIRED AS TO HOW THEY BECAME CORRODED, I WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE MUST HAVE SPILLED SODA ON THEM...UNDER THE LEATHER, THROUGH THE FOAM PAD IN A VEHICLE THAT WE DO NOT ALLOW ANY FLUIDS IN, LET ALONE SODA. AFTER HITTING A WALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE THIS COST COVERED, I WAS GIVEN 10% OFF THE COST OF REPAIR AND BEGRUDGINGLY COVERED THE REPAIR COST AT AN OUT THE DOOR TOTAL OF $1132.76. THIS WAS AN ISSUE IN THE PREVIOUS GEN 3 SERIES AND JUST LAST WEEK I RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION COVERING THIS TYPE OF REPAIR ON MY 2007 BMW M5. IT APPEARS TO BE A PERVASIVE ISSUE WITH THIS CARS BUT AS YET NO RESOLUTION IN REGARDS TO REPAIR RESPONSIBILITY FALLING TO THE MANUFACTURER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN REGARD TO THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11110005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECEIVED A WARNING LIGHT AND ACCOMPANYING ERROR MESSAGE STATING I HAD A MALFUNCTIONING PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. VEHICLE WAS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED PURCHASE, 2ND OWNER. AS VEHICLE WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND PREPAID MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, WE TOOK IT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED US THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT DETECTION MAT WAS TO BLAME AND IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS THE CONNECTION POINTS APPEARED CORRODED. WHEN I INQUIRED AS TO HOW THEY BECAME CORRODED, I WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE MUST HAVE SPILLED SODA ON THEM...UNDER THE LEATHER, THROUGH THE FOAM PAD IN A VEHICLE THAT WE DO NOT ALLOW ANY FLUIDS IN, LET ALONE SODA. AFTER HITTING A WALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE THIS COST COVERED, I WAS GIVEN 10% OFF THE COST OF REPAIR AND BEGRUDGINGLY COVERED THE REPAIR COST AT AN OUT THE DOOR TOTAL OF $1132.76. THIS WAS AN ISSUE IN THE PREVIOUS GEN 3 SERIES AND JUST LAST WEEK I RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION COVERING THIS TYPE OF REPAIR ON MY 2007 BMW M5. IT APPEARS TO BE A PERVASIVE ISSUE WITH THIS CARS BUT AS YET NO RESOLUTION IN REGARDS TO REPAIR RESPONSIBILITY FALLING TO THE MANUFACTURER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN REGARD TO THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11110005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT CAUSING INJURY. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING WHEN STUCK IN FRONT LEFT BUMPER BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH
NHTSA complaint #11079929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.